Rafa Benitez Will Become League's Highest-Paid Manager of All Time in new Job

Rafa Benitez is set to return to the dugout and become the highest-paid manager in the league's history.

Over 18 months after he was sacked from his last job as manager of La Liga club Celta Vigo, Premier League legend Benitez has agreed to return to the dugout.

The Spaniard was handed a three a three-year contract with Celta Vigo but lasted just nine months after gathering just five wins and 24 points from 28 matches, leaving them just two points away from the relegation zone.

Following his dismissal from the La Liga side, many assumed that Benitez would finally call time on his managerial career after over 20 years.

But the 65-year-old has decided to accept a new job with Greek club Panathinaikos, becoming the highest paid manager in Greek history in the process.

Rafa Benitez is returning to management. (Image: Mateo Villalba/Getty Images)

After over a year out of work, the role with Panathinaikos will be Benitez's 17th job as a manager, with local reports claiming the former Liverpool boss is set to sign a two-year deal in Athens.

According to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Benitez is set to earn a record-breaking £3.47million a year as part of his new deal following negotiations with club president Giannis Alafouzos in London on Sunday evening.

As it stands, the Greek giants sit seventh in the 14-team Super League Greece with nine points from six matches, leaving them eight points behind league leaders PAOK but with a game in hand.

Panathinaikos have won 20 titles in their history, but only two of them have come since the turn of the century, the last being in 2010.

Panathinaikos are currently seventh in the league. (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

When Benitez arrives at his new club, the expectation will be that he can bring the Greek side closer to the title alongside top players like former Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri and Golden Boy winner Renato Sanches, who is on loan from PSG.

However, the manager has asked that his tenure be placed on hold while he organises his move to Athens, meaning fans will have to wait a little bit longer before their new boss takes charge.

Bentiez's last major trophy came in 2014 when he won the Coppa Italia with Serie A side Napoli, with his biggest achievement undoubtedly being leading Liverpool to glory in the famous Miracle of Istanbul in 2005.